Атлант расправил плечи
The Sign of the Dollar
Hewaslookingatherwithasortofinterestinthepasttense,asifhewerethinkingthattherehadbeenatimewhenhewouldhaveconsideredherapersonageworthseeing."Youweretheladywhoranarailroad,"hesaid.
"Yes,"shesaid."Iwas."
Heshowednosignofastonishmentatthefactthatshehadchosentohelphim.Helookedasifsomuchbrutalityhadconfrontedhimthathehadgivenuptheattempttounderstand,totrustortoexpectanything.
"Whendidyougetaboardthetrain?"sheasked.
"Backatthedivisionpoint,ma’am.Yourdoorwasn’tlocked."Headded,"Ifiguredmaybenobodywouldnoticemetillmorningonaccountofitbeingaprivatecar."
"Whereareyougoing?"
"Idon’tknow."Then,almostasifhesensedthatthiscouldsoundtoomuchlikeanappealforpity,headded,"IguessIjustwantedtokeepmovingtillIsawsomeplacethatlookedliketheremightbeachancetofindworkthere."Thiswashisattempttoassumetheresponsibilityofapurpose,ratherthantothrowtheburdenofhisaimlessnessuponhermercy—anattemptofthesameorderashisshirtcollar.
"Whatkindofworkareyoulookingfor?"
"Peopledon’tlookforkindsofworkanymore,ma’am,"heansweredimpassively."Theyjustlookforwork."
"Whatsortofplacedidyouhopetofind?"
"Oh...well...
